Nittany Lions

Texas A&M won't just have its 12th man at the ready Friday against No. 2 Texas. The Aggies will have a 13th man, too. After becoming the latest team to move into the BCS's 3-hole, you can bet Penn State will be rooting as hard for the Aggies as anyone in College Station. And unlike the other teams on the periphery of the Rose Bowl race, the Nittany Lions have the luxury of being able to scoreboard-watch without worrying about their own game. Penn State is finished for the season, its BCS bid firmly in hand.

Penn State University's board of trustees authorized roughly $60 million in payments to settle most of the abuse claims brought forth during the Jerry Sandusky trial, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The settlement covers about 25 of the approximately 30 claims made by men who say they were abused by Sandusky, a former Nittany Lions assistant coach. The fate of the remaining claims is unclear, the report said, including at least one civil lawsuit against the school.

Penn State has expanded Beaver Stadium to seat about 107,000 fans, but a facility 10 times that size wouldn't be big enough to contain the emotions that will sweep through Happy Valley during today's pregame ceremonies. Before the unranked Nittany Lions take their best shot against No. 2 Miami, before coach Joe Paterno has a chance to tie legendary Alabama coach Bear Bryant as the winningest college coach of all-time, there will be tears and cheers for Adam Taliaferro. Taliaferro nearly lost his life on Sept.

By JOHN ALTAVILLA, jaltavilla@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, March 24, 2012

There is a tremendous amount to respect between Penn State coach Coquese Washington, the Big Ten Coach of the Year, and Geno Auriemma, the seven-time national champion. Washington spent eight seasons as Muffet McGraw's top assistant at Notre Dame before becoming the Lady Lions' coach five seasons ago. She was on the staff when the Fighting Irish won its only national championship in 2001. "I've always said that. I thought when she got the job, I thought it was a great, great hire by Penn State," Auriemma said.

It was chilly Friday night, but that's not why Penn State coach Charlene Morett's hands were shaking after her team's field hockey game against UConn. "It's just emotion," she said. "It was a great field hockey game. The fun about it, No. 1, is that we won. Otherwise I'd be so irritated." She laughed. She had just seen her team face six UConn penalty corners in the last seven minutes. UConn scored on one with 6:36 left to cut Penn State's lead to one. But the Nittany Lions managed to hang on for a 5-4 victory at the George Sherman Family Sports Complex.

Cheshire Academy wide receiver Malik Golden has chosen Penn State, according to reports. Golden could not be reached by phone Wednesday night, but he told fightonstate.com: "It was everything. It was the coaches, the atmosphere, the program and how comfortable I fit in. It's definitely a weight off my shoulders. I feel great. " Golden, 6 feet 1, 185 pounds, chose the Nittany Lions over Iowa, UConn and Boston College. He originally hails from Newington. Desmond Conner

Penn State University's board of trustees authorized roughly $60 million in payments to settle most of the abuse claims brought forth during the Jerry Sandusky trial, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The settlement covers about 25 of the approximately 30 claims made by men who say they were abused by Sandusky, a former Nittany Lions assistant coach. The fate of the remaining claims is unclear, the report said, including at least one civil lawsuit against the school.

Taming The Lion: UConn 82, Penn State 64 On to Milwaukee. And there, waiting for the Huskies in the Mideast regional semifinal, was Penn State, loser of 11 games, winner of 23. Did UConn take the Nittany Lions a little bit lightly? Perhaps. It doesn't matter, because UConn won, 82-64. But it wasn't easy. UConn watched the No.1 men's team in the country, Duke, get upset by Indiana. "It's scary," Williams said. "It takes you back to freshman year." "We know that people are wishing that on us," Jones said.

The Penn State football team has impressed people without much effort or opposition. The Nittany Lions (4-0) are ranked No. 2 in the polls and there are those who still argue Penn State is better than No. 1 Florida. Don't include coach Joe Paterno in the group. Paterno doesn't care much what the polls say in October and, more important, he doesn't have a strong opinion about his team. "I am not sure where we are," Paterno said. "I don't think you can judge anything by the four games we have played.

One school is scattered all over the sports pages each fall. The other barely registers on the sports radar. As UConn begins its next march through the NCAA men's and women's tournaments, the focus shifts to schools from opposite corners of the college sports world. Jim Calhoun's team will face Southern Illinois in the East Regional semifinals tonight in Syracuse. The 11th-seeded Salukis are the epitome of a Cinderella team, but we're guessing midnight arrives at the Carrier Dome.

By SHAWN COURCHESNE, scourchesne@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, February 1, 2012

On Sept. 10, Cheshire Academy wide receiver/defensive back Malik Golden attended Penn State's home game against Alabama. The Nittany Lions lost 27-11, but they won the heart of Golden, who decided that day that he would offer Penn State his oral commitment to play football at the school. Then came the questions and the indecision for Golden after scandal enveloped the football program at Penn State following child sexual abuse charges against former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, which led to the firing of longtime Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno.

UConn Coach Paul Pasqualoni, a member of the 1972 Penn State graduating class and a walk-on linebacker for the Nittany Lions talks about former PSU coach Joe Paterno who passed away early this morning. Paterno was Pasqualoni's coach. Here's what Pasqualoni had to say today about the impact Paterno had on his life and career. "Early in my collegiate playing career at Penn State, it became clear to me that from my athletic perspective it was going to be a challenge to get playing time with great players like Jack Hamm ahead of me," Pasqualoni said in an email through UConn's sports information department.

By JEFF SCHULER, Tribune Newspapers and The Hartford Courant, January 6, 2012

Who? That seems to be everyone's first reaction to the reports that acting Penn State athletic director David Joyner and a search committee had selected New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien to become the Nittany Lions' first new head football coach in 47 years. "The name was not one I'm familiar with," added Andrew Guman, who followed his dad, Mike Guman, to play football at Penn State. Although the university had made no official comment as of 8 p.m. Friday, the 42-year-old O'Brien reportedly will be introduced during a news conference Saturday at the Nittany Lion Inn on Penn State's campus.

Cheshire Academy wide receiver Malik Golden has chosen Penn State, according to reports. Golden could not be reached by phone Wednesday night, but he told fightonstate.com: "It was everything. It was the coaches, the atmosphere, the program and how comfortable I fit in. It's definitely a weight off my shoulders. I feel great. " Golden, 6 feet 1, 185 pounds, chose the Nittany Lions over Iowa, UConn and Boston College. He originally hails from Newington. Desmond Conner

Contrary to what some believe, UConn coach Randy Edsall and his staff put in plenty of effort in trying to land Khairi Fortt, a linebacker from Stamford High, and running back Silas Redd of King Low Heywood Thomas School, also in Stamford. Despite UConn's efforts, the two four-star recruits committed to Penn State. The Huskies have taken a hit over the years for not keeping some of the state's top talent at home. It has been assumed at times the coaching staff doesn't pursue them hard enough.

Contrary to what some believe, UConn coach Randy Edsall and his staff put in plenty of effort in trying to land Khairi Fortt, a linebacker from Stamford High, and running back Silas Redd of King Low Heywood Thomas School, also in Stamford. Despite UConn's efforts, the two four-star recruits committed to Penn State. The Huskies have taken a hit over the years for not keeping some of the state's top talent at home. It has been assumed at times the coaching staff doesn't pursue them hard enough.

What do you get the school with everything for a 10th anniversary present? Well, if you really want to stick it to Penn State, you would give the Nittany Lions a dozen roses and watch their nostrils flare. Their association with the Big 11 has been somewhat short of rosy. When they agreed to join the conference, they figured Pasadena would become Happy Valley West. But Penn State has gone to only one Rose Bowl in its nine previous years in the conference -- after its undefeated 1994 regular season.

A UConn soccer team that far exceeded expectations this season, rising to No. 1 in the coaches' poll, saw its year collapse in cruel fashion Sunday. The Huskies lost 1-0 to Penn State in the opening round of the NCAA tournament before 2,728. To make matters worse, senior standout Maurizio Rocha slammed a penalty kick off the left post with 22 seconds left. "He won a lot of games for Connecticut in his four years here," coach Ray Reid said. "Let's remember that." And the temptation to recall only the penalty miss gives a false impression of an afternoon when the Huskies were, if not outplayed, at least out-thought for much of the 90 minutes.

Zack Zeglinski couldn't decide which sport to play in college. So he played all three. Originally, Zack set out to play football. But an ACL injury and ensuing complications derailed that particular dream and sent him on a winding path that ended up in Hartford. Zack walked on to the Penn State football team as a freshman. He played baseball at Temple. And now he is a fifth-year senior at the University of Hartford, a 5-foot-11 walk-on guard for the basketball team, whose best player is junior Joe Zeglinski, his brother.

- Aside from being an idyllic spot to spend a week, the Moon Palace Resort is a unique place for a basketball tournament. Take the escalator from the main lobby to the second floor. Then take a right and a quick left to a ballroom usually reserved for weddings and galas. Not this week. Starting this afternoon, the Caribbean Classic will be played at the resort. Tournament organizers have imported a floor, two baskets and a couple of clocks to make a 400-seat arena. This is where the No. 1 UConn women's basketball team will play Washington today.